EDISON ANNOUNCES FIVE-YEAR COMMITMENT
TO HELP REBUILD L.A., PROVIDE JOB TRAINING
COMPTON, Calif., May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Edison today announced that it will contribute $35 million in cash, facilities, services and support to help rebuild and re-energize the greater Los Angeles area.
"Southern California Edison and Southern California itself can enjoy health together, and we must heal together when we are hurt," said Edison chairman and chief executive officer John E. Bryson. "Our company's success depends on the vitality of the region.
"Edison also is 17,000 people who care deeply about Southern California. We live in all its communities. We work to serve its people. Our children learn in its schools. We pray in its churches. We share in the hopes and dreams of our friends and neighbors for peace, prosperity, and justice," Bryson said.
"For all these reasons, Southern California Edison and its people today are stepping forward to announce Edison's contribution to the healing and regeneration of Southern California. We live here. We work here. And we care. So we must act. People need education and jobs. We want to help."
Edison's employees came forward with many ideas that have contributed to Edison's response to the rebuilding effort, and their continuing volunteer efforts will play a significant part in the program's success, Bryson said.
Edison's commitment includes a multimillion dollar contribution to the Rebuild L.A. program headed by Peter Ueberroth. It also includes a number of specific steps that use Edison's resources and special expertise in education support.
In making the $35 million commitment, Edison has been working closely with community leaders in affected areas to identify "the best way to match Edison's abilities with the most critical needs," Bryson said. While Edison has identified certain projects to which it will contribute a portion of the $35 million, another part of the total remains to be allocated. "We will continue to work closely with elected officials and civic leaders in the communities we serve, as well as Rebuild L.A., to find the ways we can create the most positive change," Bryson said.
Edison's plan includes:
-- Job Skills Development Centers ($6.5 million): Edison will partner with the city of Compton, educators, unions, communities and industry to develop a regional training and job skills center in Compton using a vacant Edison facility. The 15,000 square-foot building sits on a seven-acre site that provides room for later expansion. Edison will donate the facility, pay for its renovation, and provide funds to operate the center. It will provide significant job training for hundreds of people each year. Edison is planning a second, similar center at an Edison facility in the Long Beach, Calif., area as well. Edison also has committed to providing employee volunteers to mentor students in the job training programs, and committed to help graduates of the program find employment. Working with others, Edison also will establish a Job Corps-type program that will employ youth in worthwhile community projects such as graffiti removal.
-- Customer Assistance Programs ($11 million): Edison will forgive current bills of all residences and small businesses lost because of riot and fire. It also will initiate a special energy efficiency rebate program, subject to final approval by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to assist customers rebuilding businesses in the affected area. Edison will extend low interest loans for the purchase of related residential and commercial energy efficient equipment.
-- Community Support and Assistance Programs ($7.5 million): These programs represent a commitment of Edison expertise, equipment, paid and volunteer support and direct charitable contributions, including $1.25 million for economic development, $4.5 million for community assistance, and an additional $1.5 million of corporate contributions to community organizations in affected areas. In addition, Edison has begun a fund drive among all its 17,000 employees, and pledged to match employee contributions dollar-for-dollar. A team of employee, company and union representatives will decide how those funds are allocated.
-- Educational Assistance ($500,000): Edison will commit an additional $500,000 over the next five years (beyond the $2.25 million it already had planned to spend) to expand special existing programs designed to assist "at risk" students, students facing language barriers, and those facing difficult cultural transition. Edison also will continue its existing educational support efforts, including its highly acclaimed STEP UP program that brings together students, teachers, education administrators and parents to improve education in inner-city schools.
Edison's ongoing Southern California $800,000-per-year business retention efforts also will play an important role in the region's recovery from riot-caused problems, Bryson said. "We cannot lose sight of the importance of enhancing Southern California's economic vitality," he said. "New job skills won't solve the problem if we don't have jobs available in the region."
Approximately half the $35 million will be in the form of Edison shareholder contributions. Edison believes the other roughly one half of the funds are consistent with and in the scope of programs authorized by the CPUC, and thus are customer-supported.
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/CONTACT: Paul Klein of Southern California Edison, 818-302-2255/ CO: Southern California Edison ST: California IN: UTI SU:

KJ -- LA026 -- 9787 05/13/92 14:48 EDT

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